During the last phase of your loved one’s life, a caregiver can provide the treatment they need. But what do they do? Here are the top 10 caregiver duties.
It’s because you care so much that you’re probably reading this. You want what’s best for your loved one in their hour of need.
Giving is a gift and caregivers have that in spades. They’ll be part of the plan you have in place to make sure your parent gets the best possible care.
A caregiver’s role is varied and skilled. As part of our drive to create a healthier lifestyle for everyone, we’re going to take an in-depth look at the role of a caregiver. We’ve compiled our top ten caregiver duties for the best possible care.
1. Companionship
Loneliness can be all too prevalent in the lives of old people. Most of their needs can become emotional.
Relationships really are key to motivating an older person to fight against illness. They give a person a sense of purpose and they work both ways. It’s vital for the elderly to have people around them that they can about care about too.
Caregivers may need to do anything from playing games to having a simple chat about favorite TV shows. This human contact is one of the most important aspects of caregiving.
A few minutes of listening can make all the difference in the world.
2. A Housekeeping and Health Plan
It’s important to have a plan which covers home management and health responsibilities.
The older we get the more time it takes to look after the home. A caregiver can help here by washing dishes, getting rid of the garbage or vacuuming.
They should also be prepared to carry out very basic maintenance tasks like changing light bulbs or using a toilet plunger.
The health plan should be made in consultation with the medical team, family members, and anyone else providing services. Out of this, a simple time and money budget can be set up so that the expectations for health care can be met in the most cost-effective way.
3. Medical Support
Caregivers have a supporting role to play in any medical needs. They’ll need to make sure that medical appointments are being made. They’ll need to check that medicines are being appropriately prescribed.
The caregiver may also have to check health insurance paperwork and billing statements. This will ensure that your loved one isn’t being charged excessively or treated in a way that doesn’t match their care plan.
4. Managing Prescription Medication
As people grow older, the number of prescriptions they have can increase dramatically. This calls for one dedicated caregiver to look after the prescribing and administration of medicines. The caregiver should also pick up the drugs from the pharmacy.
Older people can become forgetful. A caregiver is there to ensure the right drugs are taken at the right time and in the right quantities.
Caregivers need to check that the right supply of medicines is always available. Controlled substances need to be locked away and counted regularly.
5. Making Meals
Meals need to be thought through. Older adults tend to lose their appetites and take in fewer calories.
The food they eat needs to be nutritious and should not interact negatively with any medicines they are taking. Some foods can make ailments like diabetes and high blood pressure even worse.
Meals and snacks need to be tailored to the specific needs of your parent.
6. Assistance with Personal Care
Caregivers may need to give help with bathing, using the toilet, or washing and combing hair.
Dignity is everything and the caregiver needs to be compassionate and patient.
Some older people may be more mobile. A caregiver’s responsibility extends to assisting with any kind of exercise that is good for the health. This could mean offering a helping hand on a short walk for example.
A caregiver should also make sure your loved one is sleeping well and for long enough.
7. Mobility Help
Learning how to move someone from one position to another takes real skill. The action can be physically hard on the caregiver. It also needs to be done correctly to avoid any injuries to either the caregiver or loved one.
There are specific “transfer” methods which need to be learned for moving someone from a wheelchair to the toilet, for example. Being aware of any signs that someone is at risk of falling is vital so that safety is assured at all times.
8. Transportation
Some people start to withdraw and stop going out as they get older. They may also have lost their independence by having to stop driving a car.
A caregiver can step in here by driving them to social events, as well as to any medical appointments.
There will be groceries to pick up and dental appointments to keep. Providing transport gives back a little bit of the freedom that may have been lost.
9. Handling an Emergency
This is doesn’t have to be scary at all. There just needs to be a plan in place.
If there’s a medical crisis, the caregiver should contact relatives of the elderly person. They should also be sure to have a quick and efficient means of getting the older person to a hospital for treatment.
10. Keeping Track of Issues and Communicating
It’s really important to keep a record of any issues related to physical or mental health. This helps to establish if there is a pattern and if there is any action that needs to be taken.
Caregivers should share this information with all relevant parties. This includes any other caregivers. There’s so much that needs to be kept track of it’s important to have reliable and well-trained givers. Click to learn more about how you can find the right caregiver.
A caregiver needs to pass on information and feedback from one person to another. They should be collecting information from medical practitioners. This should be shared with any other caregivers or relatives.
Carrying out Caregiver Duties Effectively
Caregiving involves a complex mixture of physical, emotional and practical tasks. Our guide to caregiver duties has been compiled to help you at a time when you’re looking for what’s best for your parent.
We’re there to support you with all your health and lifestyle needs. Check out more ways that we can help you to help yourself.
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